Capello gives media the slip in talks with FA

It's 1-0 to Fabio Capello and the game has barely begun. The Italian who seems almost certain to become the next England football manager won his first battle with the media by slipping in and out of the country barely noticed yesterday for talks with the Football Association.

The 61-year-old held prolonged discussions with Brian Barwick, the chief executive of the Football Association, at a secret venue, thought to be Wembley Stadium. An FA spokesman said the discussions were "extremely positive and without any problems" in a strong sign that the Italian's next trip to London will mark his appointment as Steve McClaren's successor.

It is widely acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges of the England job is handling the intense scrutiny of the English press, and Capello showed promise yesterday by getting from Italy to London without causing the kind of media storm that has previously deterred other candidates, including Luiz Felipe Scolari, the former coach of Brazil and now Portugal.

Capello has stressed how his experience of handling voracious media packs in previous jobs managing Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid will help him in the England job.

"Fabio has tonight returned to Italy to honour a prior commitment," an FA spokesman said last night. His representatives are now understood to be finalising details of his contract.